What happened
On the morning of the incident, a charter flight operated under visual flight rules departed from Kiunga Airport in the Western Province, heading toward Tekin Airstrip in the Sandaun Province. The aircraft, a P2-BWE, arrived at the Tekin Airstrip circuit at approximately 09:18. During the approach, the pilot performed a left base turn and established the aircraft on final approach at an airspeed of 120 kts.
As the approach continued, the pilot adjusted the aircraft configuration, setting the propeller pitch to full fine and deploying full flaps. The airspeed was subsequently reduced to a range between 85 and 90 kts. During the flare, the speed decreased further to between 75 and 80 kts, with the actual touchdown occurring at 75 kts. The aircraft made contact with the runway two meters before the designated threshold of runway 18.
During the landing roll, the left main landing gear assembly collapsed, causing the aircraft to undergo a runway excursion. There were eight persons on board, consisting of one pilot and seven passengers. While the aircraft sustained substantial damage, all occupants evacuated the scene with zero injuries.
Findings
An investigation into the flight records and pilot interviews led investigators to conclude that the pilot lacked sufficient familiarity with the Tekin Airstrip environment.